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Good morning, Central Iowa! Today is Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast — your five-minute briefing on the news, weather and a few things you probably did not know you needed to know. …

Let's start with the news. A data center company that faced pushback in Ames is now looking at Boone. Lightedge is considering a 10-acre site in Boone Business Park. Residents had an opportunity Thursday to ask questions about the proposal. Company officials have not announced a final decision. …

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa twice before Election Day. Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Trump plans to visit Oct. 22 and Nov. 1. Details about the events have not yet been released. …

And a University of Iowa conversation is underway about whether fraternities and sororities should be abolished. The university has more than 40 Greek organizations. Concerns about consent, sexual assault and campus culture have gained attention following a high-profile investigation at Cornell University. …

Around the nation and the world, Russia has attacked nine Ukrainian regions, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of households and injuring at least 15 people, according to officials. …

A tragic shooting in Bend, Oregon, left three children and a teacher dead at an elementary school Thursday. The 16-year-old suspect was later found dead after being shot by a witness at the scene. …

Now, let's talk sports. The Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the World Series for the first time since 1982. Milwaukee completed a National League Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 6-4 victory Thursday. Garrett Mitchell's sixth-inning home run helped cap the comeback. In football, the Denver Broncos edged the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 in overtime Thursday night after nearly giving away a double-digit halftime lead. …

Here's your Iowa fuel report. AAA says regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $4.20 per gallon in Iowa, down 10 cents from last week but up $1.44 from a year ago. The national average is $4.33. Iowa diesel averages $6.07 per gallon, up 3 cents from last week. …

Let's check the weather report. Today, Friday, expect clouds and wind, with a high of 51 and a low of 34. There's a 20% chance of rain. Saturday brings sunshine and a high of 58, with a low of 42. Sunday looks sunny and breezy, with a high of 65 and a low of 45. No rain is expected either day. …

Betcha didn't know this. Cow brains have largely disappeared from American menus since concerns about mad cow disease emerged in the 1990s. But one longtime German restaurant in Evansville, Indiana, is still famous for its brain sandwiches. And here in Des Moines, some Mexican taquerias once served sesos tacos — tacos made with brains. …

On this day in history, Oct. 16, 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, the company that would become the Walt Disney Co. …

And now, our morning chuckle. Today's riddle: What did the hairdresser say when I asked if she ever gave a henna rinse? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Good morning, Central Iowa! It is Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast — your quick look at the news, weather and happenings to start your day. …

Early voting for Iowa’s November midterm elections is underway. Voters lined up at election offices across the state Wednesday, including the Polk County Election Office on Euclid Avenue in Des Moines. Some voters said they wanted to cast their ballots early because they would be out of town on Election Day, while others said they were looking for change. …

In Earlham, city leaders are preparing to take out a $500,000 loan because the city has yet to receive property tax revenue from Madison County more than a quarter of the way into its fiscal year. The town of about 1,200 people says it needs the money to cover basic operating expenses. The loan could add interest costs for taxpayers. …

A former West Des Moines youth gymnastics coach has been sentenced to 90 years in federal prison for secretly recording young female students undressing and using the bathroom at a Mississippi gym. Sean Gardner, 39, pleaded guilty to three federal charges involving the production of child pornography. A judge handed down the maximum possible sentence. …

Around the state, Winnebago Industries plans to lay off 51 workers at its Forest City facility on Nov. 9, according to a notice filed with Iowa Workforce Development. …

And there is some news for Social Security recipients. The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. That would mean an average increase of about $75 per month for recipients. …

Now, let’s check the weather. Rain and clouds are in the forecast for Central Iowa today, with a 90% chance of rain and a high of 60 degrees. Tonight’s low will be around 44. Friday brings clearing skies and a high of 54, with a low of 37. Saturday looks mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and a low of 45. The allergy report is in the low range today, with ragweed, sagebrush and chenopods listed as the top allergens. …

At the gas pump, the lowest price listed in the metro is $3.96 per gallon at Murphy USA in Altoona. Mega Saver in Ankeny lists gas at $3.98, while QuikTrip on East Euclid Avenue and Kwik Star on Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines are both listed at $3.99. …

In sports, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Jake Bauers delivered a major home run in Game 3, putting the defending champions on the brink of elimination. In the NFL, Tom Brady’s latest power rankings put the San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 after their Week 5 victory over Seattle. …

On this day in history, Oct. 15, 1973, Dolly Parton released her hit single “Jolene.” In 1991, the U.S. Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court by a vote of 52-48. And in 1965, antiwar demonstrations took place in about 40 U.S. cities. …

And now, today’s morning chuckle. Yesterday’s bathtub riddle asked what steals from you when you’re in the tub. Answers included a robber ducky, a grime ring and soap making a clean getaway. … Today’s question: What did Alfred reply when Batman asked him to fill the bathtub? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com. …

That’s your Daily Umbrella Podcast for Thursday, Oct. 15. Thanks for starting your day with us.

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Good morning, Des Moines! It is Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, and this is your Daily Umbrella Podcast. Here’s what’s happening in Iowa, across the country and around the world. …

Iowa’s U.S. Senate race took center stage Tuesday night as Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek met for their second and final debate. The candidates addressed issues important to Iowans, including rising cancer rates, health care, Social Security and technology. …

Central Iowa veterans recently traveled to Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight to visit memorials and receive recognition for their military service. Marine veteran George Rowe, who served in Vietnam, said he had watched veterans from other areas make the journey but doubted he would be able to go because he is largely confined to a wheelchair. Having the flight depart from Des Moines made the trip possible. …

One person was hospitalized with suspected serious injuries after a car collided with a train Tuesday afternoon near Bondurant. Polk County sheriff’s deputies responded around 4:05 p.m. to the crash in the 4300 block of Northeast 102nd Avenue. …

Around Iowa, in North Liberty, dozens of residents spoke against keeping the city’s Flock license plate-reading cameras during a City Council meeting Tuesday. The city is reconsidering the cameras, which police say have helped locate missing people and stolen vehicles. …

Around the world, the Vatican says Pope Leo XIV spent a peaceful night in a Rome hospital following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors confirmed the pope has lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer. …

And in Georgia, the death of a man who was thrown from a Six Flags roller coaster is drawing renewed attention to amusement park ride safety. Although modern rides continue to push the limits of speed and height, officials say deaths on roller coasters remain extremely rare. …

Looking to the weather forecast, today will be cloudy, with a high of 66 degrees and a low of 56. There is a 20% chance of rain. Thursday brings clouds and rain, with an 80% chance of precipitation, a high of 62 and a low of 42. Friday looks mostly sunny, with a high of 56 and a low of 36. The allergy alert for today is 3, in the low-to-medium range. The top allergens are ragweed, sagebrush and chenopods. …

In baseball, Tampa Bay evened its American League Championship Series against Cleveland with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night. Starter Freddy Peralta delivered a powerful performance, averaging a career-high 96.9 mph on his fastball and reaching 99.4 mph. In football, the Dallas Cowboys’ defense continues to struggle. After allowing an NFL-worst 30 points per game in 2025, the team entered this season hoping for improvement, but opponents are again finding opportunities. And in hockey, Brady Tkachuk recorded a hat trick while his brother Matthew Tkachuk collected five assists as Florida dominated Columbus. …

On Oct. 14, 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” was published as a collection of stories that had previously appeared in magazines. In 1964, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America. At age 35, he was the youngest recipient at that time. …

Here's today’s morning chuckle: What steals from you when you are in your bathtub? Think you know the answer? Email your guess to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com before noon today for a chance to be featured in the next edition. And be sure to subscribe to our full email version of The Daily Umbrella for free at www.TheDailyUmbrella.com.